A Christmas Story and Hammond History
The 1983 holiday classic, A Christmas Story, is celebrating its 25th year anniversary. The film was written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark and was based on Shepherd's 1966 book, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. The book is a compilation of short stories based on Shepherd's experiences growing up in Hammond, Indiana. A number of the short stories appeared in Playboy magazine and originated from his unscripted radio broadcasts in the 1950's, 60's and 70's.

Shepherd narrated the entire movie and also had a cameo in the Higbee's Department Store scene. The movie was set in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana which was a disguise for Shepherd's hometown: Hammond. Hohman is one of Hammond's busiest downtown streets.

A Christmas Story Comes Home - The Exhibit
The Indiana Welcome Center will feature six animated displays featuring scenes from A Christmas Story. The displays include; Higbee's Department Store Window, Flick's Tongue and the Triple Dog Dare, It's a Major Award, Santa's Mountain at Higbee's, The Bumpus Hounds and the Parker Living Room. The displays were first showcased in 2003 in the windows of the Macy's in New York City.
A Christmas Story Comes Home will open on November 28th and end January 11th.

Relive the "You'll shoot your eye out" scene atop Santa's Mountain
Have your picture taken with Santa on top of Santa's Mountain, a replica of the one featured in the movie. In the famous scene, Ralphie Parker asks Santa for an Official Red Ryder BB Gun, and Santa responds, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid." Photos with Santa on Santa's Mountain are available every Saturday and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas from 11 am to 3pm at the Indiana Welcome Center. Children have the opportunity to slide down the big red slide into a pillow of snow. Photos are $5 a piece/person.

FREE Admission and Extended Hours
Open Sunday-Wednesday 8am-6pm
         Thursday-Saturday 8am-8pm
On Display at
Indiana Welcome Center
7770 Corinne Drive
(I-80/94 & Kennedy Avenue south)
Hammond, IN 46323
219-989-7979/800-ALL-LAKE
Only 30 minutes from downtown Chicago!

Contests & Special Events:
"Mommy's Little Piggy" Eating Contest
December 6, 2008 - 10:30am
Contestants will compete against each other to see who can finish a plate of mashed potatoes first. Contestants will recreate the scene in the movie where Ralphie's brother, Randy, eats his potatoes and meatloaf like a little piggy. (Sign up online by clicking on the upper left hand corner where it reads: Mommy's Little Piggy Eating Contest)

Ugliest Lamp Contest
Bring in your ugliest lamp from November 15th to December 2nd. Was it "Born Ugly" or "Made Ugly"? Visitors will vote on the ugliest lamp in each category from December 2nd to December 18th. Winners will receive their very own leg lamp!

"Oh Fuuudge!" Relay Race
December 13, 2008 - 10:30am
Father/son teams will depict the tire changing scene where Ralphie spills lug nuts onto the street and says the "F dash-dash-dash" word. Parent/child contenders (mothers and daughters are welcome to compete) must run through an obstacle course while holding a hubcap filled with lug nuts steady. Winners will recieve a $400 gift certificate from Levin Tires or a set of father/son watches from Albert's Jewelers! (Sign up online by clicking in the upper left hand corner of this page where it reads: Oh Fuuudge! Relay Race)

Write a Theme Contest: "What I Want for Christmas"
An ongoing event where children can write what they would like to receive for Christmas, just like Ralphie Parker writing about the Official Red Ryder BB Gun. Entries must be received by December 15th. There are three age groups. (Learn more clicking in the upper left hand corner where it reads: Write a Theme Contest)
Entries can be mailed to: Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond, IN 46323.

View the Movie **Just added - second show time at 11am
December 14 and 21, 2008 - 11am and 3pm
Enjoy the holiday classic A Christmas Story on the big screen in our 100 seat In-Vision Theater. Shows are free and open to the public on these dates at 3pm. One hundred tickets are available on a first-come-first served basis, two hours before show time.

Meet Flick!
December 20, 2008
Meet Flick, Ralphie's best friend in the movie. Scott Schwartz, who played Flick in the 1983 holiday classic will be available for autographs and will be showing the documentary Shooting Your Eye Out: The Untold Christmas Story. Schwartz will sign autographs from 10am to noon and from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. The documentary will begin at 2pm. Check back soon to enter to win a private luncheon with Schwartz from noon until 1:30pm (10 winners total will be chosen).

Gift Shop Information
Visit the Indiana Welcome Center for movie memorabilia! Purchase your very own leg lamp!
Open Sunday-Wednesday 10am-6pm
         Thursday-Saturday 10am-8pm